NYSERDA Announces Battery Energy Storage System Guidebook For Local Governments and Developers

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced the release of its new Battery Energy Storage System Guidebook (Guidebook) to assist local permitting authorities and the energy storage industry across New York State in navigating the siting and review processes for the development of battery energy storage projects. The release of the Guidebook supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s target to deploy 3,000 megawatts (MW) of energy storage by 2030 and the Governor’s Green New Deal, a nation-leading clean energy and jobs agenda that puts New York on a path to a carbon-neutral economy.

Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “Under Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading commitment to deploying 3,000 MW of energy storage by 2030, New York is rapidly becoming one of the leading markets for energy storage development in the U.S., and this new Guidebook will be a critical tool for local governments, developers, and customers who seek to adopt energy storage solutions. Energy storage is a key resource in our ability to build the 100% clean electricity system of the future, and NYSERDA is committed to providing hands-on resources to communities all across New York as we build a cleaner, more cost-effective and more resilient energy system for the long term.”

Developed by NYSERDA, the Guidebook represents the first comprehensive set of guidelines for reviewing and evaluating battery energy storage systems and is an important first step in protecting public and firefighter safety while promoting the safe deployment of battery energy storage. The Guidebook helps local government officials, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and others understand and develop battery energy storage system permitting and inspection processes to ensure efficiency, transparency, and safety in their local communities.

In December 2018, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted Governor Cuomo’s target for 1,500 megawatts of energy storage by 2025 and established a 3,000 megawatt target by 2030. Achieving these goals will serve many critical roles in supporting New York’s clean energy future. As the grid becomes smarter and more decentralized, energy storage will enhance efficiency of the electric grid to better integrate renewable energy resources by deploying storage energy where it is needed most. Further, energy storage systems will allow New York to meet its peak power needs without relying on its oldest and dirtiest peak generating plants, many of which are approaching the end of their useful lives.

The Guidebook contains the following chapters:

Battery Energy Storage System Model Law (Model Law): The Model Law is intended to help local government officials and AHJs adopt ordinances and legislation to responsibly accommodate battery energy storage systems in their communities. The Model Law lays out procedural frameworks and substantive requirements for residential, commercial, and utility-scale battery energy storage systems.

Battery Energy Storage System Model Permit (Model Permit): The Model Permit provides an example of the minimum submittal requirements for electrical and structural plan review that are necessary when permitting residential and small commercial battery energy storage systems.

Battery Energy Storage System Inspection Checklist: The Battery Energy Storage System Inspection Checklist is a guideline for field inspections of residential and small commercial battery energy storage systems. It can be used directly by local code enforcement officers or provided to a third-party inspection agency.

When combined with all applicable provisions of the codes, regulations, and industry standards as referenced in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, these resources create a comprehensive process to safely permit all types of battery energy storage systems. NYSERDA will continue to work with permitting authorities and the industry to test the processes outlined in the guide so they can be refined and updated as the codes and standards evolve, with additional chapters to be added in the future as needed.

Last April, NYSERDA worked with the City University of New York (CUNY) Smart Distributed Generation Hub, Fire Department of New York City (FDNY), the New York City Department of Buildings and technical consultant DNV GL to develop a guide for installing exterior lithium-ion batteries in New York City. The Guidebook announced today builds upon that work to present a comprehensive compilation of code and best practices to help municipalities across New York State understand and develop battery energy storage system permitting and inspection processes for both exterior and interior installations.

NYSERDA offers continuing free technical assistance to local governments help implement the resources outlined in the Guidebook. For additional information and guidance about adopting battery energy storage in local communities, local officials can contact the siting team at NYSERDA by emailing cleanenergyhelp@nyserda.ny.gov to identify opportunities, mitigate barriers, and learn about training, education and technical assistance opportunities. The Guidebook can be found on the NYSERDA website.

About NYSERDA

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.

New York State’s Green New Deal

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Green New Deal, the nation’s leading clean energy and jobs agenda, will aggressively put New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality This initiative will provide for a just transition to clean energy, spurring the growth of the green economy and mandating New York's power be 100 percent clean and carbon-free by 2040, one of the most aggressive goals in the U.S. The cornerstone of this newly proposed mandate is a significant increase of New York's successful Clean Energy Standard to 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030. As part of the unprecedented ramp-up of renewable energy, New York has already invested $2.9 billion into 46 large-scale renewable projects across the state as it significantly increases its clean energy targets, such as: quadrupling New York's offshore wind target to a nation-leading 9,000 megawatts by 2035; doubling distributed solar deployment to 6,000 megawatts by 2025; and deploying 3,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2030. To support this ambitious work, NY Green Bank intends to use its expertise in overcoming financing gaps to foster greater environmental impacts per public dollar by raising over $1 billion in third party funds to expand climate financing availability across New York and the rest of North America.

Last Updated: 03/13/2019

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New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

NYSERDA offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975.